Robinson successfully defended his school from closure, fought for the unification of the teaching unions, mentored future trade union leaders and transformed teaching at the Marx Memorial Library, writes JOHN FOSTER
The artichoke challenge
Although there’s not much growing in the garden in January, globe artichokes are worth a try if you follow these tips from MAT COWARD
ARTICHOKES GALORE: (L to R) Growing in a allotment and cooked roman style
[(L to R) Jamain/CC - Popo le Chien/CC] 
A judge in a German court ruled that the ban activity imposed on renowned Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah was unlawful, reports LEON WYSTRYCHOWSKI
At the very moment Britain faces poverty, housing and climate crises requiring radical solutions, the liberal press promotes ideologically narrow books while marginalising authors who offer the most accurate understanding of change, writes IAN SINCLAIR
From Gaza protest bans to proscribing Palestine Action, political elites are showing a crisis of confidence as they abandon Roy Jenkins’s apologetic approach for Suella Braverman’s aggressive ‘hate march’ rhetoric, writes PAUL DONOVAN
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the legal case behind this weekend’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival and the lessons for today
Ben Chacko talks to RMT leader EDDIE DEMPSEY about how the key to fixing broken Britain lies in collective sectoral bargaining, restoring unions’ ability to take solidarity strike action and bringing about the much-vaunted ‘wave of insourcing’
The summer of 1950 saw Labour abandon further nationalisation while escalating Korean War spending from £2.3m to £4.7m, as the government meekly accepted capitalism’s licence and became Washington’s yes-man, writes JOHN ELLISON
THERE aren’t many vegetable seeds you can sow in January, but globe artichoke is worth trying if you’re able to maintain an even temperature of around 55-60°F (13-15°C). If not, leave them until March or April.
Whenever you start, put each seed singly in a three-inch (7.5cm) pot, about a fingernail’s depth in seed compost, in a place with plenty of natural light.
Keep the compost just the moist side of dry, because artichoke seeds are large and can rot rather easily if they stay wet for too long.
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Despite being tasty and nutritious, this root veg did not fit into the capitalist mould, so never won the popularity of the more durable potato, writes MAT COWARD